More than 360 stakeholders registered for Agri-Startup Stakeholders Connect 2026, organised by Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-Kashmir) in collaboration with the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad, to explore partnerships, market linkages and entrepreneurship opportunities in agriculture.
Held at Nund Reshi Hall, Shalimar, under the theme “Fostering Collaboration & Partnerships,” the programme brought together participants from Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Haryana.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, who was also the chief guest, highlighted the importance of connecting research and innovation with entrepreneurship and markets to unlock the region’s agricultural potential.
The programme was attended by Prof. Raihana Habib Kanth, Director Extension; Prof. Syed Zameer Hussain, Director Research; Prof. Khwaja Naved Qaisar, Director Education; and Prof. Ashaq Hussan Pandit, Dean, Faculty of Horticulture, along with other university scientists and officers.
Complementing this institutional perspective, Dr. Saravanan Raj, Director, MANAGE, Hyderabad, joined online and outlined the organisation’s approach to strengthening agricultural entrepreneurship through capacity building, innovation and institutional collaboration. Mr. Muthu Krishnan M represented MANAGE at the event.
Earlier, Abdul Rouf Khan, Incubation Manager (Startups), SKUAST-Kashmir, stressed the need to strengthen linkages among farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), startups, research institutions, industry and markets.
The discussions also focused on translating entrepreneurial potential into market opportunities. Dr. Azra Mufti, Business Development Manager, APEDA, highlighted export prospects for Jammu and Kashmir’s agricultural and horticultural produce, emphasising branding, value addition, quality standards and market access.
Adding practical perspectives, Abdul Manan Koul, Founder, Poshte Foods, shared insights into building an agri-food enterprise through innovation, value addition and market-oriented business development. Khalida Rasool, Founder, K.R. Mushroom, highlighted opportunities in exotic mushroom cultivation, medicinal plants and value-added products across the agriculture and allied sectors.
